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paragon

noun
/ˈpæɹəɡən/UK/ˈpæɹəˌɡɔn/US

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French paragon, paragone, from Old Italian paragone, from paragonare (“to test on a touchstone”), perhaps from Ancient Greek παρακονᾶν (parakonân, “to sharpen, whet”), from παρά- (pará-) + ἀκόνη (akónē, “whetstone, sharpening stone”), from ἀκή (akḗ, “point, edge”) (from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- (“sharp”)).

  1. derived from *h₂eḱ-✻
  2. derived from παρακονᾶν
  3. derived from paragone
  4. borrowed from paragon

Definitions

  1. A person of preeminent qualities, who acts as a pattern or model for others.

    • In the novel, Constanza is a paragon of virtue who would never compromise her reputation.
    • What a piece of worke is man! how Noble in Reaſon? […] the beauty of the world, the Parragon of Animals;
    • That thou might'st cherish for thine own / The riches of sweet Mary's son, / Boy-Rabbi, Israel's paragon.

  2. A companion

    A companion; a match; an equal.

    • Philoclea, who indeed had no paragon but her sister
    • Nathlesse proud man himselfe the other deemed, Having so peerlesse paragon ygot

  3. Comparison

    Comparison; competition.

    • good by paragone / Of euill, may more notably be rad, / As white seemes fairer, macht with blacke attone […].
  4. ›+ 6 more definitions

    1. The size of type between great primer and double pica, standardized as 20-point.

    2. A flawless diamond of at least 100 carats.

    3. To compare

      To compare; to parallel; to put in rivalry or emulation with.

      • for want of a bigger , to paragon the little one with Artesia's length

    4. To compare with

      To compare with; to equal; to rival.

      • Few or none could for Feature paragon with her, and much less excel her.
      • In arms anon to paragon the morn, / The morn new-riſing, whoſe vermillion hand / Draws from the bright'ning front of heav'n ſerene / The humid curtains of tempeſtuous night, / Mardonius mounts his courſer.

    5. To serve as a model for

      To serve as a model for; to surpass.

      • He hath achieved a maid / That paragons description and wild fame.

    6. To be equal

      To be equal; to hold comparison.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for paragon. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA